There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.
Joshua 8:35 NIV
After the Israelites had taken the city of Ai, Joshua built an altar and presented offerings to the Lord. And then the account says, “There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses” (Joshua 8:32). We’re not told how long that took, or how much longer the people stood as Joshua read every word of the Book of the Law. But one can assume it was a pretty long time.
So why take that time? Why not be preparing for the next battle instead?
Yet that’s exactly what Joshua was doing. He wanted to remind the people who they were and why they were fighting to take this land in the first place. He wanted the new people among their group to know the promises of God. And He wanted everyone to know that they were the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people, and it was their responsibility to show the world how to act like the people of God. He was preparing them for the next battle.
Spend some time in God’s Word every day—especially if you know you are facing battles. Remember where you have come from.
God, remind me that I am Yours. Amen.
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Today’s reading was adapted from Daily Wisdom for Women: 2018 Devotional Collection with permission from Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading was written by Marian Leslie.